Amplifying device



R. S. OHL

AMPLIFYING DEVICE I Time 24, 1930.

Filed April 26, 1928 c Valts wcrvss C266 INVENTOR B. L5. 0% BY ATTORNEY.

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES RUSSELL B. OHL, OF CLIFFWOOD, NEWJEY, ASBIGNOR T AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK enema-mire nnvrcn Application filed April as, 1928. Serialan. avatar.

This invention relates to improved arrangements for amplifying andrepeating the variations in an e ectrical current.

It is known that when a copper-disk 1s given a coatin of copper oxideand a voltage is ap lie to the copper member and to the oxi e member ofthe combination, an electron flow takes lace between the copper andcopper oxi c. It has been found that such electron flow under certainconditions will be substantially unidirectional and accordingly, thecombination may be utilized as a rectifier of electrical currents. For amore detailed description of the contact type rectifier reference may behad to the Patent No. 1,640,335, issued August 23, 1927,.to L. O.Grondahl. In the arrangements of the present invehtion there is provideda method of and means for control- 2e ling the electron flow in a devicesimilar to the contact type rectifier by means of variations in anelectrical current so that the device will function as an amplifier orrepeater of such electrical variations.

In the arrangements of the invention the electron flow and attendantspace charge existing in a device similar to the contact type rectifierma be controlled by means of a magnetic fie d applied at right angles tothe direction of motion of the electrons. The field intensity may becontrolled by the variations in the incoming electrical current. In analternative arrangement the electron flow might be controlled by meansof an electrostatic field produced by an electrode similar to the gridof a vacuum tube. Further objects and features of the ihvention willappear more fully from the given.

The invention may be more fully understood from the followingdescription, together with the accompanying drawing, in the Figures 1,2and 3 of which the invention is illustrated. Fig. 1 is a circuit diagramembodying a preferred form of the invention. In Figs. 2 and 3 are showncurves graphically illustrating principles of operation of theinvention. .Similar refdetailed description thereof hereinafter erencecharacters have been utilized to denote like parts in all of thefigures.

In Fi 1 is shown a section 4 of an incoming 'ne circuit terminating in awinding 5 on the core' 6. The core 6 may be constructed of permalloy, ifdesired, and would have two ole pieces 7 and 8. Between the poles ofthis electro-magnetic de- 'vice is located a copper cylinder 1 having asurface 2 of copper oxidein contact with the copper. A voltage isapplied from the battery 10 by means of circuit 9 to the surfaces of thecopper and copper oxide. Contact with the copper oxide may be made bylead or other soft metal coating, such as-3, under pressure to reducethe resistance of the contact. The copper cylinder and its oxidecoating, together with circuit 9, is now substantially similar to thecontact type rectifier and an electron flow will take place between thecopper and the copper oxide elements. In series in the circuit 9 is thewinding of a transformer 11 connecting circuit 9 to the output circuit12. On the core 6 is provided an exciting winding 15 which is suppliedwith current over circuit'l3 from the battery 10. The strength of thecurrent in the exciting winding 15 may be adjusted by the resistance 14.

The operation of the invention may be more fully understood from aconsideration of the curves of Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2 is shown a curveC illustrating the current voltage characteristics of the contact typerectifier, such as the copper cylinder device of Fig. 1,.when it is notsubjected to ma netic control. When the voltage from tl e battery 10 ispoled in one direction, such as toward the point P, the current will bevery large, such as illustrated by the point A.

However, when the voltage is poled in the other direction the currentwill fall to very small values. In other words, the arrangements willoperate substantially as a unidirectional device. In Fig. 3 isillustrated the effect of a magnetic field in addition to the polarizingvoltage. The polarizing voltage as supphed by the battery 10 will remainfixed so that the current flow 'will be at a desired point, such as A.The intensity of the magnetic field between the pole pieces 7 and 8,as'determined by the exciting winding 15, will be adjusted by theresistance 14. At low field intensities the current flow in the circuit9 will remain at a constant value, such as A. In other words, at lowfield intensities, such as between the points zero and H, the currentflow will remain substantially constant. However, at a certainintensity, such as H the electron flow decreases to Y in nearly astraight line relation. The field intensity will now be adjusted to adesirable point, such as X, f0r example, close to the center of thisstralght part of the characteristic curve C. Under such conditions anysmall changes in the field intensity due to currents in the line winding5 will cause corresponding changes in the current through the rectifierdevice and the primary of transformer 11. These variations will berepeated into the circuit 12.

While the arrangements have been illustrated in certain specific formswhich are deemed desirable, it is understood that they are capable ofembodiment in many other forms without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A body consisting of a metal having an electronically conductingcompound 0 the metal formed thereon and integral thereto, a circuit forapplying a voltage to said metal and said compound whereby .an electronflow will take place between said metal and said compound, and means forcreating an electromagnetic field for controlling said electron flow.

2. A body consisting of a metal having an electronically conductingcompound of the metal formed thereon and integral thereto, a circuit forapplying a voltage to said metal and said compound whereby an electronfiow will take lace between said metal and saidcompound means forcreating an electromagnetic field in the vicinit of said body, and meansfor controllin t e intensity of said electromagnetic fiel to controlsaid electron flow.

3. A body consistin of a metal havin an electronically COI11Ctillcompound 0 the metal formed thereon an integral thereto, a circuit forapplyin a voltage to said metal and said compoun whereby an electronflow will take place between said metal and said compound, an outputcircuit assothereto, a circuit for ap lying a voltage to said metal andsaid end; whereby an electron flow will take place between said metaland said surface, an electromagnet having its pole pieces so related tosaid cylinder that a magnetic field will be formed at right angles tosaid electron flow whereb the electron flow may be controlled by t eintensity of said magnetic field, and a signaling circuit having awinding on the core of said electromagnet.

5. A copper cylinder having a surface of cuprous oxide formed thereonand in thereto, a circuit for ,ap lying a voltage to said metal and said0x1 e whereby an electron flow will take place between said metal andsaid surface, an electromagnet having its pole pieces so related to saidcylinder that a magnetic field will be formed at right angles to saidelectron flow whereb the electron flow may be controlled by te'intensity of said magnetic field, means for re ulating the intensityof said magnetic fie d, an a si aling circuit for varying the intensity0 said magnetic field.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this25th day of April,,1928.

RUSSELL s. OHL.

ciated with said first circuit, an electromagnetic device in thevicinity of said body, and an incoming signalin circuit for varying theintensity of the fie d of said electroma netic device whereby saidelectron flow w be correspondingly varied.

4. A copper cylinder having a surface of cuprous oxide formed thereonand integral

